Updated

We've had a few questions about tiers so I thought it best to post this. If you can't see a source in this guide, you can assume they are not worth mentioning or they haven't been verified as a source yet.

We are not going to restrict which tiers can or cannot be posted to the community, but when you post something, please clearly indicate the Tier along with the source in square brackets, for example:

[David Ornstein T1]

If the poster isn't in the tier list, put NT for No Tier. Also, don't post The S\*n. Fuck The S\*n.

Tier 0 - Undisputed/Official Sources

• @ManUtd on Twitter
• ManUtd.com

Tier 1 - Highest Quality Sources

• Simon Stone (BBC)
• Simon Peach (Press Association)
• Craig Norwood (Club Photographer).
• James Ducker (The Telegraph)
• Henry Winter (The Times Chief of Football)
• Mohamed Bouhafsi (France)
• Paul Joyce (The Times/Liverpool/Everton)
• Kristof Terreur (The Guardian)
• David Ornstein (The Athletic)
• Arancha Rodriguez (Real Madrid/Spain)
• Sam Lee (The Athletic)
• Romeo Agresti (Juventus news)
• John Percy (The Telegraph/Midlands Clubs)
• Alan Nixon (for youth, and League clubs news)
• Laurie Whitwell (The Athletic)
• BBC (United Kingdom)

Tier 2 - Proven to have current sources

• Der Westen (Germany/Schalke/Gladbach/Dortmund)
• Kicker (Germany)
• De Telegraaf (Netherlands)
• COPE (Spain)
• Raphael Honigstein (Germany Freelancer/Guardian German News)
• Voetbal International (Netherlands)
• Fabrizio Romano (Guardian/Independent)
• Gianluca Di Marzio (Italians only, Tier 3 if not)
• Matt Law (Telegraph/Chelsea)
• Andy Burton (Sky Sports)
• Howard Nurse (BBC Editor)
• Charlotte Duncker (Goal)
• Loic Tanzi (French news)
• Caderna SER (Spain)
• RMC Sport (France)
• Ruhr Nachrichten (Germany)
• Telefoot (France)
• Lee Ryder (The Chronicle/Newcastle)
• Sami Mokbel (Daily Mail)
• Rob Dawson (ESPN)
• Paul Hirst (The Times)
• Andy Mitten (Various)
• RTP (Portugal only, Tier 3 if not)
• Sport1 (Germany)
• The Telegraph
• Mike McGrath (The Telegraph)
• Adam Crafton (The Athletic)

Tier 3 - Average reliability, or former Tier 2

• Canal+/Pierre Menes (France)
• Jamie Jackson (Guardian)
• Ian Ladyman (Daily Mail)
• Jason Burt (Telegraph)
• The Guardian
• The Times
• Mark Ogden (ESPN)
• Daniel Taylor (Guardian)
• Melissa Reddy (Sky Sports)
• Ian Whittell (Telegraph)
• Bild (Germany/Bavaria)
• Le Parisien (France)
• Ian Herbert (Independent)
• Marcel van Der Kraan (de Telegraaf)
• Jim White (Everton only)
• Stephen Howson (Tier 2 for youth news)
• O Jogo (Portugal)
• Adrian Kajumba (Daily Mail)
• Patrick Berger (Sport1 - except Tier 2 for German news)
• Dan Harris (The Guardian)
• Alfredo Pedullà (Italy)
• Mike Keegan (Daily Mail)
• Chris Wheeler (Daily Mail)
• Julien Maynard (Telefoot, Tier 2 for France)
• James Savundra (TalkSPORT)
• Talksport sources (UK & Ireland)
• Relevo
• Raisa Simplicio & Thiago Fernandes (Goal Brazil)
• Jose Felix Diaz (Real Madrid news)
• James Robson (Evening Standard)

Tier 4 - Indirect sources, low reliability

• BildSport (Germany)
• Tuttomercatoweb (Italy)
• Sport (Spain)
• Goal.com
• Guillem Balague (Sky Sports/Freelance)
• Kaveh Solhekol/Dharmesh Sheth (Sky Sports)
• Stuart Mathieson (MEN)
• The Independent
• Mundo Deportivo (Spain)
• Marca (Spain/Real Madrid)
• AS (Spain/Real Madrid)
• Paris/Euro United (France/PSG)
• London Evening Standard
• CalcioMercato (Italy)
• El Chiringuito (Unless J. Sanchez, then T1)
• Sam Pilger
• Pietro Balzano Prota (Radio Rossonera/Non-AC Milan, Tier 1 for AC Milan)
• L'Equipe (France)
• Richard Keys (beIN Sports)
• Record (Portugal)
• A Bola (Portugal)
• David Amoyal (Gianluca Di Marzio)
• Tuttosport
• Correio de Manha (Portugal)

Tier 5 - Banned

• Jacob Steinberg (Guardian, for shit stirring and inaccurate article)
• Jamie Jackson (Guardian, for shit stirring and inaccurate article)
• Ben Jacobs (banned by BBC)
• Samuel Luckhurst (for shit-stirring, racist attitude, inaccurate transfer reporting)
• @SimonSmithBBC (Simon Stone Impersonator)
• Simon Mullock (Mirror) for falling for a parody site article link

Manchester United are hoping to strike a deal with Everton for Jarrad Branthwaite after agreeing personal terms with the England defender’

United are also pursuing a deal for Leny Yoro despite fierce competition for the Lille centre-half.

Everton are holding out for at least £70 million for Branthwaite, which is significantly higher than United’s valuation but the Manchester club are hoping a compromise can be struck.

Now that we have it confirmed that ETH is staying, it's time to address Steinberg and his coverage of United from before the FA Cup final.

Steinberg broke the news that Ten Hag was sacked regardless of FA CUP final result and thus derailed the whole conversation around the FA CUP win, even affecting the coverage.

!

Article: https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/may/24/manchester-united-decide-to-sack-erik-ten-hag-regardless-of-cup-final-outcome

As there is no indication that Steinberg has any sources within the club, and shit stirring and clickbaiting are against my personal principles, I am of the opinion that Steinberg should be considered a banned source.

The discussion is now open if anyone has arguments for or against.

Finally.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/15799193

> Here are all the stats being dumped in one place so there is no spam of threads: > > > > # Eras come to an end? > > https://x.com/Squawka/status/1794397046562263370 > > >Erik ten Hag is the first manager to win a major domestic cup final against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City > > https://x.com/statmusefc/status/1794396930719813867?s=61&t=1ia9EZglTcZLDD4T7692dA > > > [StatMuse FC] The streak is over. After 74 games and 474 days, Rodri finally loses a game with Man City. > > https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1794380113980825612 > > > 1 - This is now the first men’s #FACupFinal to see two different teenagers score, with Kobbie Mainoo (19y 36d) the youngest English goalscorer in the match since West Ham’s John Sissons in 1964 (18y 215d). Dreams. > >

https://x.com/telegraphducker/status/1794356184461541753?t=108nlaEXShzkgzjMQccD3g

> [Ducker - T1] Kambwala has replaced Casemiro on the bench after teams were submitted due to a late injury issue with Casemiro, who was not 100 per cent heading into this game according to #MUFC

Manchester United have been forced to expedite their managerial contingency plans in the wake of Mauricio Pochettino’s departure from Chelsea with the two clubs holding an interest in some of the same targets.

Chelsea have narrowed their search for Pochettino’s successor to four coaches, with Enzo Maresca, Kieran McKenna, Thomas Frank and an unnamed candidate all making the club’s shortlist.

With Chelsea hoping to be in a position to make an appointment by the start of next month, if not earlier, as sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart work around the clock to secure a new manager, the situation has forced United’s hand to some extent.

United maintain that they have yet to make a final decision on the future of Erik ten Hag but his position appears increasingly untenable and it is understood that the club have been sounding out potential replacements in the event they sack the Dutchman after Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley.

Like Chelsea, United are also believed to hold an interest in McKenna, their former first-team coach who has just led Ipswich Town into the Premier League after back to back promotions and is also interesting Brighton, and Brentford manager Frank. Informal discussions are thought to have been held with their representatives this week in addition to those of other potential targets including Thomas Tuchel and Pochettino himself.

Ten Hag sidestepped questions about his future at his press conference on Thursday ahead of the Cup final and the outcome of that game is not expected to determine the course of action United take.

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna is likely to reject any new deal amid interest from Chelsea and Brighton.

The 38-year-old is also believed to be under consideration by Manchester United if they decide to make a change with Erik ten Hag’s future in doubt.

McKenna – who is contracted to Ipswich until 2027 - is ambitious and is understood to be keen to take the next step in his career.

Talks with Ipswich are likely to take place this week and the Tractor Boys are expected to offer McKenna a new deal to convince him to stay at Portman Road.

BBC Sport understands that is expected to fail with the manager, and assistant Martyn Pert, feeling the time is right to move.

Chelsea are believed to be in pole position, despite Brighton’s interest, with United’s situation adding to the complexities as they are yet to confirm what will happen with Ten Hag.

Any club will need to pay at least £4m compensation to take McKenna and Pert.

Man United's incoming chiefs in email blunder as Dan Ashworth opens the door to Premier League 'tapping up' probe by sending secret exchange to Newcastle account

Dan Ashworth sent an email to a Newcastle United address inadvertently revealing he was being tapped up by incoming Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada, who was still on gardening leave from Manchester City.

It is an embarrassing blunder and error of judgement on the part of the two men who will be charged with restructuring Man United by new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and could be looked at by the Premier League.

We can reveal the pair had a conversation in early February and Ashworth followed that up by sending an email to Berrada - at an INEOS account - making it clear he wanted to accept the opportunity of becoming Man United’s sporting director.

However, Ashworth sent a blind copy to his own Newcastle email address, clumsily disclosing to the club the covert negotiations with Berrada. Man United, at this point, had not informed Newcastle of their interest in Ashworth.

Berrada does not officially start at Old Trafford until July 13 and he had been on gardening leave from Man City for less than a month when engaging with Ashworth, potentially breaching the terms of his contract.

Ashworth, we understand, also disclosed details to Berrada of the agreement between Newcastle and Brighton that took him to St James’ Park in the summer of 2022. This would likely be a breach of confidentiality to each of Newcastle and Brighton.

The 53-year-old eventually informed Newcastle of his wish to join Man United on February 18 and was placed on gardening leave, a period that Ratcliffe has suggested expires towards the end of 2025.

Man United have so far not made an acceptable offer to Newcastle to bring forward that date and Ashworth is reportedly set to take the club to arbitration in a bid to force through his move.

Ratcliffe appeared to aim a dig at Newcastle last month when he said: ‘One of the biggest problems we have in football is we get these new guys to come into the team, they’re really capable people, but they’re all on gardening leave. So it takes six months, a year or even 18 months (for them to start) It’s a real issue in football at the moment.’

In February, Ratcliffe said: ‘I think it’s a bit silly, personally. What I do think is completely absurd is suggesting a man who is really good at his job sits in his garden for one and a half years.

We had a very grown-up conversation with City about Omar Berrada. When things got done we sorted it out very amicably. They could see why he wanted to take that challenge. You look at Pep (Guardiola) when he’s done with one of his footballers - he doesn’t want them to sit in the garden for one and a half years. He doesn’t do that. That’s not the way the UK works or the law works.’

All the while, however, the ‘capable people’ Ratcliffe spoke of were potentially breaching Premier League guidelines. There is increased chatter in football circles of the INEOS chief not understanding how the industry works, and he has angered Man United employees by removing staff perks around the FA Cup final. He has also banned working from home, upsetting some within the club.

Newcastle, meanwhile, have stood firm in waiting for what they see as a fair offer to release Ashworth from his gardening leave.

Mail Sport contacted Newcastle but they declined to comment. Manchester United declined to comment. Manchester City declined to comment.

The Premier League rule book states that each club, director and official should behave towards each other with the ‘utmost good faith’ and it would be a breach if they were to ‘act dishonestly towards another club’ or ‘engage in conduct that is intended to circumvent these rules’.

Brighton vs Manchester United

Competition: Premier League | Date: 19th May

Kick off: 16:00 BST | Venue: AMEX Stadium

Referee: Craig Pawson | TV: n/a

Shushing the Geordies in the away end, lmao.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/15437953

United starting XI:

https://www.manutd.com/en/matches/matchcenter?matchId=2367874

!

Bruno Fernandes firmly expected to stay at Man Utd. 29yo + reps held long meeting with #MUFC bosses last week to discuss future - club made clear intention to keep midfielder & he expressed desire to remain, provided ambitions are matched @TheAthleticFC

cont:

> There are good chances for Casemiro to leave Man United this summer.

Manchester United vs Arsenal

Competition: Premier League | Date: 12th May

Kick off: 16:30 BST | Venue: Old Trafford

Referee: Paul Tierney | TV: Sky Sports

Crystal Palace vs Manchester United

Competition: Premier League | Date: 6rh May

Kick off: 20:00 BST | Venue: Selhurst Park

Referee: Jared Gillett | TV: Sky Sports

Apparently for a documentary. I wonder why they have picked a United game for this? Probably because they know there will be controversy, since we'll likely at some point throw the game by getting in a stupid position that leads to the ref having to make a idiotic and unexplainable call that will ultimately gift Palace a win late on.

Manchester United has made two further changes to its executive leadership. By mutual consent, Patrick Stewart, interim Chief Executive Officer, and Cliff Baty, Chief Financial Officer, have decided to leave the club at the end of the season. Patrick will be replaced as CEO by Jean-Claude Blanc until the arrival of Omar Berrada on 13 July. Cliff Baty will be replaced as CFO by Roger Bell.

Joel Glazer said: “I would like to thank Patrick and Cliff for their dedicated service to Manchester United and wish them well for the future. Both have been a source of invaluable advice and expertise over many years, and Patrick has served an important role as interim CEO during this transitional phase.”

Sir Jim Ratcliffe commented: “I would like to personally thank both Patrick and Cliff for their support in helping us get to know the club and making us feel welcome and I respect their decisions to now move on as we establish a new management team for the club.”

United has both a sell-on and buyback clause

https://theathletic.com/5208004/2024/01/17/man-united-transfer-news-alvaro-fernandez/

> The Lisbon-based club will have the option to sign Fernandez at the end of the season if this clause is not activated, while United will retain a buyback option and sell-on clause should Benfica sell the Spaniard to another club.